Hey hey, thanks for watching my round-up of launchery shenanigans, and please do let me know of any you think are worth including in the next update! (And please ignore any scammy Telegram nonsense in the comments...)
Been using the Niagra launcher forever now, It's simple and quick. Allows me to do just what I want to do on my phone and allows me to be focused. This is coming after I've used loads of other launchers. It takes a bit of time to get used to if you're coming from the traditional launchers.
Tbf it doesn't even take much time to get used to, I've installed it on my mum's phone and she was using it with no problems in one day. I've recently had to change phone cuz my touchscreen broke and I felt impaired without Niagara, it's just so fast compared to normal drawers it's insane
This is such an awesome list! I was using default + nova on most of my phones. After this video, I installed Square Home and Smart Launcher 6 on a couple of my phones. Loved them a lot! Got the full versions of both. Can't thank you enough for this list!
Been using Smart Launcher for about 7 years now. It has just the right amount of customisation without being overwhelming. And the ability to categorise apps is lovely.
Yup I been using smart launcher since like version 2 or 3 when I had my galaxy S3. Bought pro back then too and it did apply to all of the upcoming versions too as I update to them across different phones using the same google account and if it doesn’t just tapping restore pro or ensuring the unlocker app is downloaded from the play store does the trick for me. I love the auto categories drawers/pages and having ability to create folders on the main page to stick in my most used favorite apps.
I put the big launcher one in my grandma's phone. Is just awesome. She was getting quite stress by not being able to use her new smartphone. After the launcher, BOOM! was all gone! It helped her so much you just can't believe. I indicate for everyone that have a similar condition
From one Brit to another, I love your humour 😆 More money for crisps is always a good thing! Thanks for all your hard work on this, and everything else you do!
Hi! Thanks for this video, I was hoping you'd mention the Niagara launcher! Boy oh boy, I absolutely love this launcher and it's my current Launcher! 😍😍
I've been using the Microsoft launcher for about a year now. The most thing I love about it is the daily changing wallpapers which is the only reason why I still use it.
Been using niagara launcher for many years now. Never felt I needed to change that's how good it is. I also use icon pack studio to make matching icons with my wallpapers. Highly recommend that combo!
I have tried many launchers in the past (and still do now), but my favorite for more than 2 years is Smart launcher 6, combined with Shortcut Maker to create folders that are opened by a double-tap gesture, it's a neat way to keep my apps within reach.
Unfortunately all the launcher you can install, you can't use the navigation bar with gestures, only the shitty navigation bar with three buttons you can use!
@@gabotoror yup, in MIUI for instance, the gestures are immediately disabled when you use a third-party launcher, they only work with the system launcher. But I use FNG, the triggers are much more responsive and configurable than the default ones, and although you lose some animations, I don't care much about that. This way I can use my favorite launcher
@@Satosugu.19 Ok man, I have the Xiaomi Pad 5 and the shitty Pocco M3 pro 5g and unfortunately I can't install launcher, because I can't use the navigation bar with gestures on these shitty garbage Xiaomi products! The MIUI is the worst and the most shitty garbage software, and I'm so disappointed with this trash garbage MIUI software! I think the Realme is the best company for the phones and tablets, fantastic and cheaper phones with great specs and amazing Realme UI software! Never go for shitty Xiaomi and Pocco phones or tablets, because they all sucks and are bullshit trash garbage products🤮🤮🤧🤧
Another launcher people may want to check-out is the new Tabs Launcher. Its unique feature is that it let's me organize my home-pages in tabs. This makes it quick and easy to get to what I am looking for (I have lots of apps). Its free and has no ads.
Great video thanks (and Square Home looks great, I'll check that out). Do most of these launchers have good accessibility features? I have some friends with visual and hearing disabilities that rely on those features. Thanks
I am using Before Launcher, which is basically Minimalist, except the app time usage measuring feature. Same principle of limiting distractions, but with the advantage that the pro version is a one time payment (I think it was around 8eur)
Using AWD launcher from android 2.3 and while migrating from phones just transferring configuration, it simply does everything I like and need, one of the apps that I really recommend to use.
What's the view on the new owner of sesame shortcuts and nova?, to be franck I un installed both preventively... Am using exclusively Niagara but miss from time to time sesame...
I've been running Microsoft Launcher since the Arrow Launcher Beta days. I really like the idea behind the minimalist launchers and should probably try one.
Great video! Although I did not try all the launchers you mention, my personal favourite is Before launcher. The main reason I prefer a third party launcher over stock Android is that in most cases it gives the opportunity to lock the homescreen. I think it is strange that this cannot be done in stock. Cannot imagine that I am the only one who has the homescreen constantly messed up by unintended actions
@Tech Spurt, could you please help me, what phone that has "total-square shape" you use in this video? It's rare to see the square phone lately. Thank you
My favorites are clearly Nova Prime when I'm feeling like fiddling and customization but when I'm not, like tbh is most of the time, I just use Niagara pro with a nice icon pack (my all-time fav is "ENIX" btw) and Sesame integration. Niagara is simple, fast, looks good and gets the job done, I love it!
It seams that the 'put the display to sleep' with double-tap on the screen doesn't work with Nova 7. Is there a way to work around this other than to use the power button for it? Thanks.
Tried loads of launchers in the past, always gone back to Nova Launcher Prime. I still have my old Samsung Galaxy S2 (in perfect condition I might add) stuffed in a drawer somewhere around here with Nova installed. When I bought the Pixel 7 Pro I installed it on that too, but then decided to just try stock, and now I don't use any 3rd party launchers. I love it as it is. weird :) - but now you've got me thinking about trying other launchers again ffs haha
It seams that the 'put the display to sleep' with double-tap on the screen doesn't work with Nova 7. Is there a way to work around this other than to use the power button for it? Thanks.
I've only got a few that I find myself using. Niagara is the ONLY launcher outside of the Nova 8 beta that makes gesture navigation not look and feel like ass. The other launcher I use would be AIO launcher. It's a unique take on a home screen. Offers material you support, and you can have access to all of your things on one screen that scrolls up and down. If gestures were better supported it would be my go to for sure
This is my problem, too. Navigation gestures on launchers are buggy and glitchy. I always find myself going back to the default launcher after a few minutes, because it's just terrible.
Nova has always been my go-to but I recently decided to give launchers another go & reinstalled it on my S23+ but it seems to negatively impact my battery.
I recommend Hyperion Launcher, it works perfectly on Android 12 and 13. It is very light and has all the features you may need in a good launcher. Although it has some extra paid features, the free version is more than enough and has NO ADVERTISING.
smart launcher is the best one, it has all the right customizations, not too overwhelming, very aesthetic, and smoooth. been using it for like 1 year and honestly (after trying lots of launchers like nova, lynx, niagara...etc) it's the one that stood out to me!
Great review; as always :) Does Nova Launcher run on new Pixel phones? Why doesn't it run properly on Xiaomi phones? (Note 10 Pro). Total Launcher looks good.
For some reason no one mentions Launcher 10. I've been using it since I had to switch to Android some years ago (yes, I was one of the happy Nokia Windows Phone users). It's simple yet configurable, you can change icons, add widgets and the Windows phone style app menu is, in my opinion, probably the best... but no one mentions it...
It seams that the 'put the display to sleep' with double-tap on the screen doesn't work with Nova 7. Is there a way to work around this other than to use the power button for it? Thanks.
The problem with Android 12 and 13 is that gestures don't work properly with any launcher other than stock. I wish Google would fix this one day, but with each iteration of Android they just remove more and more useful stuff, like accessing the Android/Data folder in Android 13.
oh i doubt. as they removed the overscan dev tool and i cannot find any alternative to that tool so 3rd party gestures are and will be broken in the near future at least. so 3rd party cannot directly control the gesture pane without root access. coz i tried literally everything i could to get rid of that gesture bar at the bottom. no use
@@francisnike7545my friend has a Google Pixel 6 Pro and both of the issues I mentioned are true for that phone too. Also tested this on Honor and Asus, same thing.
@@miaya3898 ironic that huawei OS is still android, but without google stuff google services basically. android is open source any anyone even you can just pull up the code and do whatever you want with it. google android is not something that google "gives" to anyone out there, you can very much use android without anyones permission for whatever, whats more android is and modified version of the linux kernal/operating system.
I've tried most Android launchers, except for the newer ones. My default launcher is Nova Launcher Prime. It's rock solid, works as advertised. No bugs, no lags, butter smooth. One of its best features is that I can assign gestures to each individual home screen app Icon. For example, I've assigned an upward gesture on the Nova Launcher Icon to open my default browser (Brave). A downward gesture opens my file manager. I've assigned similar gestures on all five icons on my default home screen page. This allows for a cleaner, less cluttered home screen. Anybody who hasn't tried Nova, I can't recommend it enough. Even app critics go absolute ga-ga when they talk about Nova.
Yeah, the gestures on icons (including "hold") make it unlikely I'll go with anything else. I'm in China and can access the four main uses for Alipay (which is used for all my money transactions) just by holding the icon.
I like the swipe in icons feature, this way you can have the file manager icon, and if you swipe up it opens an alternative file manager, and the same if you swipe down. I have my chrome icon, if I swipe up it opens firefox, if I swipe down, it opens Chrome canary. I just miss the stackable widgets
Hi Chris another good video, I payed a few squij for nova prime. Love it, I change my icons weekly. I used to use apex launcher it's nova for me as I said before you're my first go to for tech, have a good one 👌👍👍
from my point - Microsoft Launcher was 1st one that was just... stable. Rest of them (and I checked most from this list) always had strange freezing so I couldn't use it for more than couple of days.
My previous phone developed a nasty problem where every launcher (including the stock one) crashed repeatedly and immediately on startup. The only exception I found was the Microsoft launcher, which worked flawlessly and extended the life of my phone by at least a year (before carrier shenanigans forced me into another phone).
@@TheArchmage100 Definitely use what works best with your phone. I don't actually like some parts of Microsoft launcher, but it will always have a place in my heart for saving my phone (at least for a few months)
@@benjaminmiddaugh2729 I agree. Btw I just installed the Microsoft launcher again after our conversation 😄 Can't stop myself from installing it, It's that amazing. And it's not lagging like before in the same smartphone that I'm using. Guess the devs made some tweaks finally.
I have the Nova launcher but I prefer the stock pixel laucher because of the animations which are much smoother than a third-party laucher whose open-close app animations are inconsistent
I have a Pixel 6 Pro Android 13 Dec 22 Update + Early Jan 23 update (small) and I HAVE TO!!! use Nova cause 1 - its the best of these and 2 - Google are absolutely unable to give a fuck about not having 10 icons taking up the entire screen! Damn, just give us the option to make icons smaller and more grid to position them. I wouldn't use nova otherwise. I just install it and make icons smaller.
@@iPhonenaire Oh yeah. Tnx. Still, it's not small enough and less grid then the nova. Even turned all the way to smallest, it's still bigger then what I use with nova.
Hi Chris, firstly, thanks for the great reviews you post - breath of fresh air, as someone else below said. But I also wanted to say thanks for not using ridiculous thumbnails! I'm so sick of the elastic-faced idiots that put up a thumbnail with a title of 'The fascinating world of Jacob Rees-Mogg' alongside a picture of them looking as if the cat just crapped on their lunch. Whilst some might say that is exactly the look generated by anything to do with Rees-Mogg, it pisses me off to the extent that I simply go through and select 'Don't recommend channel' for each of those gurning dickheads. Thank you for not being one of them!
Awesome video, but all these launchers cause more inconveniences than advantages for the simple reason that they can't truly replace the stock launcher. It sucks that Google has blocked such an important feature.
@@Natsukashii1111 Lot of issues in replacing the stock launcher in many phones... for example nova launcher gesture doesnt work on many xiaomi devices, and on my iqoo neo 6 phone the nova launcher keeps changing back to default launcher even after setting the default launcher to nova.
not sure what phone you have, but I have a Pixel phone for work running Android 12 and a Galaxy as my daily driver with Android 13/ One UI 5 and have been using 3rd party launchers for years with no problems.
Samsung nailed it with one UI, I don't think it's possible to make a launcher that gives you that good of a user experience. It's one of the main reasons why I am considering switching to Samsung if I stay in the android ecosystem.
I used to use nova launcher and go launcher a lot 10+ years ago. Especially the themes with go launcher. I also did a lot of research and trying out to use a the smallest launcher I could find for a couple really low ram phones I had. I tried going back through my entire app list on the play store but I either missed it or its no longer available. Been years. But on top of that. Oh the hacking, mods, tweaks, roms, and system customization back in those days. It's quite sad actually. It seemed like things were going to be amazing for many years to come, but it was short lived. Lock downs, restrictions, and greed took over it all. What was once on the rise is just over priced slabs. Where now we lose things or they barely advance. Just useless greed machines hiding under the guise that we've peaked, things can't be done, or every little feature costs an arm and a leg to include. And then every thing they take away or skimp out on there is someone there to defend them for it. The demand is to high and they've become to complacent and money hungry. Yay we get brighter screens, processors that score higher benchmarks, and the same camera as before but it works 500% better with our new software spell.
I'm right there with you buddy. Miss the old days when Android was largely for enthusiasts and we could really go to town molding our phones into something amazing. I also totally agree that we have essentially peaked. And Google has become ever more restrictive with what apps can do (Tasker hasn't been able to toggle wifi for years now. WTH??) I suspect things won't change significantly now until we have widespread wearable AR displays (I'm being serious) at which point it becomes a completely different animal.
@@al201103 Its very disheartening. And speaks for many aspects of today's society well beyond just phones. However I don't think we peaked. Far far from it in fact. That's just an easy excuse. So many things could have advanced further for the last 6 ish years. Where as many things since then have slowed to a crawl, been removed, or gone backwards. From features, implementations, charger ports, storage, speakers, call volume, reception, durability, cameras, connectivity, authentication, uniqueness, ports, size, battery, on and on. The screens are brighter, soc stronger, and more "magic" camera tweaks. Zoom lenses however improved because they had more headway for improvement. The only thing ever actually advancing for years are prices going up and up. Apple "borrows" more tech from others and others "borrow" greedy controlling tactics. Becoming a vicious cycle between all of them.
Have always been a big fan of Nova Launcher, but on my backup phone that runs on android go, my favorite is Niagara Launcher, I also go for pro which only have a subscription yearly, and it's so inexpensive. What I love about Niagara is the minimalism yet the customization is amazing, you can use your favorite icon pack and also change the fonts. And I've been using it for more than 3 years😊
Whenever I see a review of the MS Launcher, the images in the video always look like a typical Android phone. I've been using the MS Launcher for a few years and have the Dock (the bottom set of icons that appear in all Home Pages) set to ten icons from left to right and can open up to two more additional sets of ten, for, in my case, a total of 30 apps. (The maximum number is 12 per row or a total of 36 icons in the Dock.) Also the App Tray can be highly configured as well. Most videos don't do this launcher justice.
Same. I have tried lots of launchers and was using Smart Launcher for a couple of years, but that has performance/ battery problems now. Plus, they add features and make you buy the feature packs after you already bought a license earlier. The MS Launcher is just great. The feed, searching, configurability and most of all the dock. It just ticks all boxes for me and I have been using it for a couple of years now.
How did we get from vibrant, interactive and practical UI design like the windows phone Metro Ui live tiles to boring and generic Android Icon/widget combo?
How do you make gestures on launchers smooth? I'm on android 12, and every time I use navigation gesture on any launcher, it's buggy and glitchy, especially the back gesture when I'm exeting an app.
I used to use lawnchair launcher but I swapped to smart launcher when I noticed updates were getting very infrequent and I started having issues with it
Hey hey, thanks for watching my round-up of launchery shenanigans, and please do let me know of any you think are worth including in the next update! (And please ignore any scammy Telegram nonsense in the comments...)
I'm not falling for those scammers, I only fell in love with you.
hehe ... sure 🙏👍sir
Please include a link to the anime backgrounds you use in your videos. Also shout out to Action Launcher 3, my go to.
I think Ratio Launcher is not free, its only free for 7 days
Hey navigation gesture is not working properly with nova launcher
How to fix that ?
As someone who occasionally uses launchers I can tell you this must have taken FOREVER to test these launchers and make the video. Thanks, Chris!
*Niagara Launcher* is my absolute favorite launcher of all time. So grateful it exists.
ze only downside of it iz u cant set a picture az an icon for a specific app
Iam currently using it, it's too simple and makes us use the device less
Also a big fan of Niagara, I've been using it for maybe a year and couldn't go back now.
Definitely one of my favourites too, so good if you're easily distracted!
Weak promotion
Been using the Niagra launcher forever now, It's simple and quick. Allows me to do just what I want to do on my phone and allows me to be focused. This is coming after I've used loads of other launchers. It takes a bit of time to get used to if you're coming from the traditional launchers.
Tbf it doesn't even take much time to get used to, I've installed it on my mum's phone and she was using it with no problems in one day.
I've recently had to change phone cuz my touchscreen broke and I felt impaired without Niagara, it's just so fast compared to normal drawers it's insane
Isn't the minimalist launcher a better choice for the effects you mentioned?
@@veysel8081 I agree but it takes away the ability to set wallpapers,Which I hate.
This is such an awesome list! I was using default + nova on most of my phones. After this video, I installed Square Home and Smart Launcher 6 on a couple of my phones. Loved them a lot! Got the full versions of both. Can't thank you enough for this list!
You like simplicity
Many thanks for including Before Launcher -- zero ads, private and no subscription chaos.
Been using Smart Launcher for about 7 years now. It has just the right amount of customisation without being overwhelming. And the ability to categorise apps is lovely.
Yup I been using smart launcher since like version 2 or 3 when I had my galaxy S3. Bought pro back then too and it did apply to all of the upcoming versions too as I update to them across different phones using the same google account and if it doesn’t just tapping restore pro or ensuring the unlocker app is downloaded from the play store does the trick for me. I love the auto categories drawers/pages and having ability to create folders on the main page to stick in my most used favorite apps.
Smart launcher is fun and one of most easy to handle just love it
Same here but using APUS Launcher since 2014.
same been 5 years too
Which one?
I put the big launcher one in my grandma's phone. Is just awesome. She was getting quite stress by not being able to use her new smartphone. After the launcher, BOOM! was all gone! It helped her so much you just can't believe. I indicate for everyone that have a similar condition
I used Ratio Launcher when it first launched, really solid launcher and I loved having all my messaging threads under one section
From one Brit to another, I love your humour 😆 More money for crisps is always a good thing! Thanks for all your hard work on this, and everything else you do!
I absolutely adore the notification filter in Minimalist. Traps a set for review at leisure without completely denying them.
Hi! Thanks for this video, I was hoping you'd mention the Niagara launcher! Boy oh boy, I absolutely love this launcher and it's my current Launcher! 😍😍
I've been using the Microsoft launcher for about a year now. The most thing I love about it is the daily changing wallpapers which is the only reason why I still use it.
I've been using Smart Launcher for almost as long as I've had smartphones.
Have had a pro license on it for a long time as well. It's incredible
Been using niagara launcher for many years now. Never felt I needed to change that's how good it is. I also use icon pack studio to make matching icons with my wallpapers. Highly recommend that combo!
Can't go back to oneui now even if it got a lot better and faster.
Love icon pack studio too! I use it with nova though.
Cheers Spurt! Always on the look for new launchers, but always revert back to nova! Been my number one for well over a decade now
It's a proper banger, always worth returning to, like your most cosy pair of pants
I have tried many launchers in the past (and still do now), but my favorite for more than 2 years is Smart launcher 6, combined with Shortcut Maker to create folders that are opened by a double-tap gesture, it's a neat way to keep my apps within reach.
Unfortunately all the launcher you can install, you can't use the navigation bar with gestures, only the shitty navigation bar with three buttons you can use!
Totally!! SmartL6 the best 🔥
@@gabotoror yup, in MIUI for instance, the gestures are immediately disabled when you use a third-party launcher, they only work with the system launcher. But I use FNG, the triggers are much more responsive and configurable than the default ones, and although you lose some animations, I don't care much about that. This way I can use my favorite launcher
@@thimpap4564 that's only with xiaomi phones
@@Satosugu.19 Ok man, I have the Xiaomi Pad 5 and the shitty Pocco M3 pro 5g and unfortunately I can't install launcher, because I can't use the navigation bar with gestures on these shitty garbage Xiaomi products!
The MIUI is the worst and the most shitty garbage software, and I'm so disappointed with this trash garbage MIUI software!
I think the Realme is the best company for the phones and tablets, fantastic and cheaper phones with great specs and amazing Realme UI software!
Never go for shitty Xiaomi and Pocco phones or tablets, because they all sucks and are bullshit trash garbage products🤮🤮🤧🤧
Another launcher people may want to check-out is the new Tabs Launcher. Its unique feature is that it let's me organize my home-pages in tabs. This makes it quick and easy to get to what I am looking for (I have lots of apps). Its free and has no ads.
Great video thanks (and Square Home looks great, I'll check that out). Do most of these launchers have good accessibility features? I have some friends with visual and hearing disabilities that rely on those features. Thanks
hello, where in Nova do you setup the scroll-able dock? i have the prime version and cant seem to find
that option.
I am using Before Launcher, which is basically Minimalist, except the app time usage measuring feature. Same principle of limiting distractions, but with the advantage that the pro version is a one time payment (I think it was around 8eur)
square home user here, love it, i miss my lumia, there are still some thing's i would like to be different but it's better than the stock launcher
Excellent review. Thank you. Have used Nova for years. Just downloaded a couple based on your recommendation. Cheers.
I've used Nova for yonks but do you think the involvement of Branch is going to bugger it up?
Lawnchair 12 receives regular updates, available for download on their webpage. Has material you integration and is very stable.
Using AWD launcher from android 2.3 and while migrating from phones just transferring configuration, it simply does everything I like and need, one of the apps that I really recommend to use.
This may sound dumb but which one is the one in the beginning? Where you swipe diagonally?
Question ❓ around 0:33 what app are you using where the icons are scrolling up at an angle off to the right?
Niagara Launcher with Sesame Shortcuts integration is for me the best way to use Android.
What's the view on the new owner of sesame shortcuts and nova?, to be franck I un installed both preventively... Am using exclusively Niagara but miss from time to time sesame...
Sesame Launcher is owned by Branch, the same company that bought out Nova and is constantly tracking its users.
I've been running Microsoft Launcher since the Arrow Launcher Beta days. I really like the idea behind the minimalist launchers and should probably try one.
Whats the name of microsoft launcher
@@peterbugs1 Microsoft Launcher is the name.
LOVE UR VIDS , and its great that a big tech youtube creator exist that doesn't only talk about flagships.😀
Brilliant video!! Nicely done.. thank you.. I will try some of them out!
Great video! Although I did not try all the launchers you mention, my personal favourite is Before launcher. The main reason I prefer a third party launcher over stock Android is that in most cases it gives the opportunity to lock the homescreen. I think it is strange that this cannot be done in stock. Cannot imagine that I am the only one who has the homescreen constantly messed up by unintended actions
Never had issue of moving my stuff but nova Launcher can also lock your home screen AFAIK, and I bet total, lawn hair and smart home too
Been using the Microsoft Launcher for several years and see n o reason to change. Does a great job.
@Tech Spurt, could you please help me, what phone that has "total-square shape" you use in this video? It's rare to see the square phone lately. Thank you
Is the nova google companion safe?
Also, is it okay to give notification permission to niagara
My favorites are clearly Nova Prime when I'm feeling like fiddling and customization but when I'm not, like tbh is most of the time, I just use Niagara pro with a nice icon pack (my all-time fav is "ENIX" btw) and Sesame integration. Niagara is simple, fast, looks good and gets the job done, I love it!
It seams that the 'put the display to sleep' with double-tap on the screen doesn't work with Nova 7. Is there a way to work around this other than to use the power button for it? Thanks.
Tried loads of launchers in the past, always gone back to Nova Launcher Prime. I still have my old Samsung Galaxy S2 (in perfect condition I might add) stuffed in a drawer somewhere around here with Nova installed. When I bought the Pixel 7 Pro I installed it on that too, but then decided to just try stock, and now I don't use any 3rd party launchers. I love it as it is. weird :) - but now you've got me thinking about trying other launchers again ffs haha
Ha, tbf Nova is an absolute classic, sometimes you've gotta go old school...
Nova has been bought out by a data collection company called Branch.
It seams that the 'put the display to sleep' with double-tap on the screen doesn't work with Nova 7. Is there a way to work around this other than to use the power button for it? Thanks.
Hey man please tell where you get those awesome wallpapers from please
I've only got a few that I find myself using. Niagara is the ONLY launcher outside of the Nova 8 beta that makes gesture navigation not look and feel like ass. The other launcher I use would be AIO launcher. It's a unique take on a home screen. Offers material you support, and you can have access to all of your things on one screen that scrolls up and down. If gestures were better supported it would be my go to for sure
This is my problem, too. Navigation gestures on launchers are buggy and glitchy. I always find myself going back to the default launcher after a few minutes, because it's just terrible.
Nova has always been my go-to but I recently decided to give launchers another go & reinstalled it on my S23+ but it seems to negatively impact my battery.
Do you know of a launcher where you can adjust the font to large print? aside from big launcher. I have low vision
I recommend Hyperion Launcher, it works perfectly on Android 12 and 13. It is very light and has all the features you may need in a good launcher.
Although it has some extra paid features, the free version is more than enough and has NO ADVERTISING.
smart launcher is the best one, it has all the right customizations, not too overwhelming, very aesthetic, and smoooth. been using it for like 1 year and honestly (after trying lots of launchers like nova, lynx, niagara...etc) it's the one that stood out to me!
Yeah I bought the paid version of it, and it is absolutely worth it, it is smooth and doesnt crash and very easy to use. Absolute banger.
I'll check it out
Great vid
AP15/Minimalist/Total🎉
Great review; as always :) Does Nova Launcher run on new Pixel phones? Why doesn't it run properly on Xiaomi phones? (Note 10 Pro). Total Launcher looks good.
Been using Nova Prime for years. I've gotten so used to it that I honestly can't change at this point.
Same. Nova plus KLWP plus Tasker - I'm sorted. That said, Total launcher looked interesting....
@@al201103 yeah it does. I'll probably try it for a week or two and go back to Nova.
For some reason no one mentions Launcher 10. I've been using it since I had to switch to Android some years ago (yes, I was one of the happy Nokia Windows Phone users). It's simple yet configurable, you can change icons, add widgets and the Windows phone style app menu is, in my opinion, probably the best... but no one mentions it...
It seams that the 'put the display to sleep' with double-tap on the screen doesn't work with Nova 7. Is there a way to work around this other than to use the power button for it? Thanks.
what's the first phone that is being used with nova launcher at the beginning of the video ? Looks super cool.
Always was, still is and always will be the best.. Nova launcher!! Good day to you Sir Spirty Bollox 😊
KISS launcher is my absolute favourite for years. It's so damn simple and usable - no other launcher had beated it, imo.
KISS is wonderful. No more icons, ever.
I love it's search functions... It's so powerful
Do any of these launchers that have unfolding menus on the right (like Niagara, Ratio) have a left-handed mode?
Is there a particular launcher you would recommend for an Android tablet?
The problem with Android 12 and 13 is that gestures don't work properly with any launcher other than stock. I wish Google would fix this one day, but with each iteration of Android they just remove more and more useful stuff, like accessing the Android/Data folder in Android 13.
oh i doubt. as they removed the overscan dev tool and i cannot find any alternative to that tool so 3rd party gestures are and will be broken in the near future at least. so 3rd party cannot directly control the gesture pane without root access. coz i tried literally everything i could to get rid of that gesture bar at the bottom. no use
We should all move to Huawei's OS. Google is too big and too evil now.
I think this depends on your device Manufacturer not Google.
Two companies i know are guilty of this is Samsung and Xiaomi
@@francisnike7545my friend has a Google Pixel 6 Pro and both of the issues I mentioned are true for that phone too. Also tested this on Honor and Asus, same thing.
@@miaya3898 ironic that huawei OS is still android, but without google stuff google services basically. android is open source any anyone even you can just pull up the code and do whatever you want with it. google android is not something that google "gives" to anyone out there, you can very much use android without anyones permission for whatever, whats more android is and modified version of the linux kernal/operating system.
I've tried most Android launchers, except for the newer ones.
My default launcher is Nova Launcher Prime. It's rock solid, works as advertised. No bugs, no lags, butter smooth.
One of its best features is that I can assign gestures to each individual home screen app Icon.
For example, I've assigned an upward gesture on the Nova Launcher Icon to open my default browser (Brave).
A downward gesture opens my file manager. I've assigned similar gestures on all five icons on my default home screen page.
This allows for a cleaner, less cluttered home screen.
Anybody who hasn't tried Nova, I can't recommend it enough. Even app critics go absolute ga-ga when they talk about Nova.
Me too!
Yeah, the gestures on icons (including "hold") make it unlikely I'll go with anything else. I'm in China and can access the four main uses for Alipay (which is used for all my money transactions) just by holding the icon.
So nav. gestures are super smooth on nova? I heard of lag issues with galaxy phones when it came to using gestures with 3rd party launchers
I like the swipe in icons feature, this way you can have the file manager icon, and if you swipe up it opens an alternative file manager, and the same if you swipe down. I have my chrome icon, if I swipe up it opens firefox, if I swipe down, it opens Chrome canary. I just miss the stackable widgets
Hi Chris another good video, I payed a few squij for nova prime. Love it, I change my icons weekly. I used to use apex launcher it's nova for me as I said before you're my first go to for tech, have a good one 👌👍👍
This is a great channel. Keep it up! Love the irreverent wit 😂
Yes Nova is certainly the most customizable but Pear launch is much simpler, lighter, and easier to set up. More should give it a shot.
Definitely a good 'un!
from my point - Microsoft Launcher was 1st one that was just... stable. Rest of them (and I checked most from this list) always had strange freezing so I couldn't use it for more than couple of days.
Oooof! Square home looks amazing!
Is there a way to change the apps icon without installing any launcher?
I am using Smart Launcher 6. Loved it more than Nova. Got it in 0.6$. Lifetime deal. 😎
My previous phone developed a nasty problem where every launcher (including the stock one) crashed repeatedly and immediately on startup. The only exception I found was the Microsoft launcher, which worked flawlessly and extended the life of my phone by at least a year (before carrier shenanigans forced me into another phone).
I absolutely loved Microsoft launcher. But surprisingly, It lags like hell in my Samsung galaxy m52 5G. Which is why I don't use it.
@@TheArchmage100 Definitely use what works best with your phone. I don't actually like some parts of Microsoft launcher, but it will always have a place in my heart for saving my phone (at least for a few months)
@@benjaminmiddaugh2729 I agree. Btw I just installed the Microsoft launcher again after our conversation 😄 Can't stop myself from installing it, It's that amazing. And it's not lagging like before in the same smartphone that I'm using. Guess the devs made some tweaks finally.
Happy new year grandad, nice to see you 😁
How do you get these launchers?. Will they work with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11?.
I have the Nova launcher but I prefer the stock pixel laucher because of the animations which are much smoother than a third-party laucher whose open-close app animations are inconsistent
I have a Pixel 6 Pro Android 13 Dec 22 Update + Early Jan 23 update (small) and I HAVE TO!!! use Nova cause
1 - its the best of these and
2 - Google are absolutely unable to give a fuck about not having 10 icons taking up the entire screen!
Damn, just give us the option to make icons smaller and more grid to position them. I wouldn't use nova otherwise. I just install it and make icons smaller.
@@ancientslav4863 well I solve it by changing the display size to smallest, the icons are smaller that way
@@iPhonenaire How? What do you mean naje smaller?
@@ancientslav4863 system display settings and tweak the display size to smallest
@@iPhonenaire Oh yeah. Tnx. Still, it's not small enough and less grid then the nova. Even turned all the way to smallest, it's still bigger then what I use with nova.
Hi Chris, firstly, thanks for the great reviews you post - breath of fresh air, as someone else below said. But I also wanted to say thanks for not using ridiculous thumbnails!
I'm so sick of the elastic-faced idiots that put up a thumbnail with a title of 'The fascinating world of Jacob Rees-Mogg' alongside a picture of them looking as if the cat just crapped on their lunch. Whilst some might say that is exactly the look generated by anything to do with Rees-Mogg, it pisses me off to the extent that I simply go through and select 'Don't recommend channel' for each of those gurning dickheads. Thank you for not being one of them!
Is there any way to use gesture navigation in miui while using a third-party launcher?
I'm so glad to finally see Total Launcher on a best launcher list. I've been using it since android 4 and I've loved it.
Awesome video, but all these launchers cause more inconveniences than advantages for the simple reason that they can't truly replace the stock launcher. It sucks that Google has blocked such an important feature.
How come they cannot replace the stock Launcher? Never heard of someone not being able to do that
@@Natsukashii1111 Lot of issues in replacing the stock launcher in many phones... for example nova launcher gesture doesnt work on many xiaomi devices, and on my iqoo neo 6 phone the nova launcher keeps changing back to default launcher even after setting the default launcher to nova.
not sure what phone you have, but I have a Pixel phone for work running Android 12 and a Galaxy as my daily driver with Android 13/ One UI 5 and have been using 3rd party launchers for years with no problems.
Samsung nailed it with one UI, I don't think it's possible to make a launcher that gives you that good of a user experience. It's one of the main reasons why I am considering switching to Samsung if I stay in the android ecosystem.
One UI is good, but it gets boring, and it's not always convenient
@@badatsomerhing its boring unless you use good lock
@@jamestribie3387 i have core sadly
Very boring
I need a more detailed launcher one with good customizations
@@TechTechmartin have you tried square home?
Hey man where do you get your anime wallpaper from ?
Do launchers consume more battery + are they subject to more vulnerabilities?
Ratio Launcher is not free. it got monthly sub.
Use apk duh
I used to use nova launcher and go launcher a lot 10+ years ago.
Especially the themes with go launcher.
I also did a lot of research and trying out to use a the smallest launcher I could find for a couple really low ram phones I had. I tried going back through my entire app list on the play store but I either missed it or its no longer available. Been years.
But on top of that. Oh the hacking, mods, tweaks, roms, and system customization back in those days.
It's quite sad actually. It seemed like things were going to be amazing for many years to come, but it was short lived. Lock downs, restrictions, and greed took over it all. What was once on the rise is just over priced slabs. Where now we lose things or they barely advance.
Just useless greed machines hiding under the guise that we've peaked, things can't be done, or every little feature costs an arm and a leg to include.
And then every thing they take away or skimp out on there is someone there to defend them for it. The demand is to high and they've become to complacent and money hungry.
Yay we get brighter screens, processors that score higher benchmarks, and the same camera as before but it works 500% better with our new software spell.
I'm right there with you buddy. Miss the old days when Android was largely for enthusiasts and we could really go to town molding our phones into something amazing.
I also totally agree that we have essentially peaked. And Google has become ever more restrictive with what apps can do (Tasker hasn't been able to toggle wifi for years now. WTH??)
I suspect things won't change significantly now until we have widespread wearable AR displays (I'm being serious) at which point it becomes a completely different animal.
@@al201103 Its very disheartening. And speaks for many aspects of today's society well beyond just phones.
However I don't think we peaked. Far far from it in fact.
That's just an easy excuse. So many things could have advanced further for the last 6 ish years. Where as many things since then have slowed to a crawl, been removed, or gone backwards.
From features, implementations, charger ports, storage, speakers, call volume, reception, durability, cameras, connectivity, authentication, uniqueness, ports, size, battery, on and on.
The screens are brighter, soc stronger, and more "magic" camera tweaks. Zoom lenses however improved because they had more headway for improvement.
The only thing ever actually advancing for years are prices going up and up.
Apple "borrows" more tech from others and others "borrow" greedy controlling tactics. Becoming a vicious cycle between all of them.
Realy good video and thank you for this. how can i add the scrollabel dock at the nova launcher like you mentioned ? can´t find it.
Hello, what icon is this that are the same as the magazines that appear at the beginning of the video? I loved them... 😍
Where are you gettong these regular updates of nova? The play store says it hasn't been updated for over a year
Another vote for Niagara here. Tried it on a Nothing Phone (1) and immediately upgraded to the paid version.
How much does Niagara launcher pays for such promotion? It's everywhere
Ooppss.. ratio launcher is not free 😢
What u mean free for me
It's free
Have always been a big fan of Nova Launcher, but on my backup phone that runs on android go, my favorite is Niagara Launcher, I also go for pro which only have a subscription yearly, and it's so inexpensive. What I love about Niagara is the minimalism yet the customization is amazing, you can use your favorite icon pack and also change the fonts. And I've been using it for more than 3 years😊
Hey tech spurt loved the video just a request as to where I can find the wallpaper used on lynx launcher??
Whenever I see a review of the MS Launcher, the images in the video always look like a typical Android phone.
I've been using the MS Launcher for a few years and have the Dock (the bottom set of icons that appear in all Home Pages) set to ten icons from left to right and can open up to two more additional sets of ten, for, in my case, a total of 30 apps. (The maximum number is 12 per row or a total of 36 icons in the Dock.)
Also the App Tray can be highly configured as well.
Most videos don't do this launcher justice.
Same. I have tried lots of launchers and was using Smart Launcher for a couple of years, but that has performance/ battery problems now. Plus, they add features and make you buy the feature packs after you already bought a license earlier.
The MS Launcher is just great. The feed, searching, configurability and most of all the dock. It just ticks all boxes for me and I have been using it for a couple of years now.
Nova Launcher > anything else
except it sold out to a data analysis company.
Stock or die.
@@arkylnox so
The app drawer doesn't work on my Samsung ultra 24
Does oit affect the performance and ram of the phone after using ?
Hey Uncle Spurt is there any new phones coming out this year that you are going too test and give your full review on them cheers love you.
How did we get from vibrant, interactive and practical UI design like the windows phone Metro Ui live tiles to boring and generic Android Icon/widget combo?
How do you make gestures on launchers smooth? I'm on android 12, and every time I use navigation gesture on any launcher, it's buggy and glitchy, especially the back gesture when I'm exeting an app.
Where do you get your wallpapers from ?
where do you get those cool wallpapers from on your phone?
Hey what phone are you using there?? The screen looks awesome
Does launcher could affect or drain battery fast?
I used to use lawnchair launcher but I swapped to smart launcher when I noticed updates were getting very infrequent and I started having issues with it
Great video! My parents have a lot of trouble finding their way around their phones, so the Big Launcher will be perfect for them!!! Thanks a lot!!
Hello....How do I customise my lynx launcher to look like the one you showed in this video
Here is a question, do launchers have an impact, and if so to what extent on flip and fold phones
Please tell me where you get your wallpapers, please
You have Makoto Niijima as your wallpaper, I see you're a man of culture as well.
Kiss is stand for “keep it super simple” (and another one) really like it